Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs May 1 & 2 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to UP from April 28-29, 2026 
In April 2026, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh (UP) on 28–29 April 2026, April, where he participated in the Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi (Kashi) and inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various development projects worth around Rs. 6,350 crore.

• The visit included major programmes in Varanasi and Hardoi, focusing on women empowerment, infrastructure development, healthcare, tourism, railways, and expressway connectivity.

Highlights:
Event: PM Narendra Modi attended a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi with large participation of women and performed darshan at Kashi Vishwanath Temple while announcing and launching major development initiatives.
Outlay: Projects worth about Rs.6,350 crore were inaugurated and had foundation stones laid, including over 48 completed projects worth Rs.1,050+ crore and 112 projects worth Rs.5,300+ crore.
Inauguration: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi as a major step in advancing world-class infrastructure.
Project: The 594 kilometer (km)-long, 6-lane (expandable to 8 lanes) greenfield access-controlled expressway, built at Rs.36,230 crore, connects 12 districts from Meerut to Prayagraj across western, central, and eastern UP.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Attends NRAI’s 75th Anniversary Celebrations; Launches NRAI Athlete App
On April 27 2026, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports(MYAS), attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of the National Rifle Association of India(NRAI), held at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range (DKSSR) Finals Hall in New Delhi, Delhi.
About the Launched Initiatives
Commemorative Logo: The logo was unveiled to mark 75 years of Indian shooting, symbolising seven and a half decades of excellence, discipline, and remarkable achievements in the sport.
MyNRAI Athlete App: The NRAI Athlete App is a transformative digital platform that positions the NRAI as India’s first fully digitised sports federation.
Grassroots Initiative: : The NRAI announced a nationwide programme to introduce 7.5 lakh school and college students to shooting before the 2028 Olympics through a hands-on “10-shot experience.”

MEA Secretary Dr. Neena Malhotra Chairs BRICS MENA Meeting 2026 in Delhi 
Dr. Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), chaired the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys for the Middle East and North Africa (BRICS MENA) meeting in New Delhi, Delhi, on 23–24 April 2026, in line with India’s BRICS Chairship.

• The meeting saw participation from BRICS member countries,  focusing on regional stability, humanitarian crises, and the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

About BRICS MENA Meeting 2026:
Focus: Members expressed deep concern over regional developments in the Middle East, including the situation in Palestine and Gaza, humanitarian assistance, and the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

• They reiterated zero tolerance for terrorism, welcomed the Lebanon ceasefire, and condemned attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Regions: Discussions included post-conflict reconstruction in Syria, political settlement in Yemen, stability and development in Iraq, political process in Libya, and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Outcome: The meeting concluded with members agreeing to meet again under China’s chairship in 2027. 

Union MoS Sanjay Seth Launches ‘Namo Stall Scheme’ for Vendors in Ranchi 
In April 2026, Union Minister of State(MoS) Sanjay Seth, Ministry of Defence(MoD), launched the ‘Namo Stall Scheme’ for street fruit and vegetable vendors in Ranchi, Jharkhand, under Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi(PM SVANidhi) Scheme.
About Namo Stall Scheme:
Objective: The scheme focuses on empowering local vendors by offering better infrastructure, enhancing visibility, and promoting self-employment.
Implementation: In the initial phase, five vendors were allotted free stalls under the scheme, with each stall costing approximately Rs.50,000.
PM SVANidhi Scheme: It is a central-sector micro-credit scheme launched on 1 June 2020 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA) to support street vendors.

• It provides collateral-free working capital loans of Rs.10,000, with subsequent loans of Rs.20,000 and Rs.50,000, along with a 7% interest subsidy.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

THE Asia University Rankings 2026: Tsinghua University Tops the List; IISc Bengaluru Emerges as India’s Top University 
In April 2026, the United Kingdom (UK)-based Times Higher Education (THE) released the 14th Asia University Rankings 2026, in which Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, Karnataka, emerged as India’s top university, and the only Indian institute in the top 50, securing 43rd rank in Asia with an overall score of 65.1, down from 38th in 2025.

• Tsinghua University in China secured first place for the 8th consecutive year with a score of 93.6, followed by Peking University (China) in second place with 93.1, and the National University of Singapore in third place with a score of 91.1.

Highlights:
Top 10 Universities : Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and the University of Tokyo, Japan jointly ranked 4th with scores of 85.1 each, followed by the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong in 6th place (84.3), Fudan University, China in 7th (82.9), Zhejiang University, China in 8th (82.6), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China in 9th (82.1), and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong in 10th with a score of 81.1.
Top Performers: China dominates with the top two positions and five of the top 10 spots, while Singapore and Hong Kong each have two universities in the top 10 rankings.
Top Representation: India led with 128 universities, followed by Japan (115) and Turkey(109).

Union Minister Rajnath Singh Attends SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
On April 28 2026, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD), attended the 23rd Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 
Highlights of 23rd Defence Ministers’ Meeting of SCO:
Focus: The meeting focused on strengthening regional security cooperation, counter-terrorism efforts, and promoting stability amid evolving global challenges.
Participants: It witnessed participation from defence ministers of SCO member states, including India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.
India’s Stand: UnionMinister Rajnath Singh, MoD, highlighted India’s commitment to global peace amid prevailing security challenges and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and extremism.
Bilateral Engagements: On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, MoD, held bilateral talks with defence ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China and Belarus to enhance defence cooperation, strengthen sectoral collaboration, and promote capacity building and training.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Eases Rules for Small NBFCs, Grants Exemptions from July 1, 2026
In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the final guidelines, RBI (Non-Banking Financial Companies(NBFC) – Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Amendment Directions, 2026 for NBFCs not availing public funds and not having customer interface.  The regulations come into effect from July 1, 2026.
Framework:
Unregistered Type I NBFCs: NBFCs that do not avail of public funds and do not have a customer interface and have an asset size of less than Rs 1,000 crore (Crs) from the requirement of registration with the RBI.

• These entities will be classified as ‘Unregistered Type I NBFCs’, while all other NBFCs will be categorised as ‘Type II NBFCs’.

One-time window: Existing NBFCs meeting these criteria have been given a one-time window to apply for deregistration by December 31, 2026, introducing, for the first time, a structured exit route from the regulatory framework.
Suo Motu Loan Resolution in Calamities: The RBI also issued directions in which it has allowed banks and non-bank lenders to implement suo motu resolution for borrowers affected by natural calamities on the recommendation of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC).  

• The revised rules will come into effect from 1 July 2026.

SEBI Operationalises ‘PaRRVA Framework’ For Transparency & Investor Protection
In April 2026, the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) operationalised the ‘Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) framework’ to enhance transparency in performance claims made by market intermediaries.
About PaRRVA:
Regulatory Recognition: CARE Ratings Limited has been granted recognition as the PaRRVA, while National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC), in line with the regulatory framework issued on April 4, 2025.
Pilot Phase: Pilot phase of PaRRVA was launched on December 8, 2025.

• Post completion of the pilot phase, PaRRVA will begin providing its services on a regular basis from May 4, 2026.

Objective: PaRRVA is India’s first to independently validate performance claims made by regulated intermediaries and unregistered finfluencers.

Tata AIA Life Insurance Launches ‘Shubh Health Criti’: Unit-Linked Health Fund Plan
In April 2026, Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited launched ‘Shubh Health Criti’, a unit-linked life insurance plan (ULIP) in India designed to build a market-linked health fund for long-term medical needs, offering coverage for over 60 critical illnesses and available to individuals aged 18–65 years.

• The plan also features a 30-year premium guarantee and integrates investment growth with structured healthcare preparedness and fund-based health planning.

About Shubh Health Criti Plan:
Structure: The plan integrates Tata AIA Health SIP (Systematic Investment Plan), Tata AIA Health Buddy, and Tata AIA Comprehensive Protection Rider to provide insurance, wellness, and protection features while building a market-linked health corpus.
Benefits: Features include premium waiver on death or disability, accidental death and disability cover, terminal illness benefit with term booster, dual-life Outpatient Department (OPD) cover for family, and return of Health Buddy premiums (if opted).
Wellness: Integrated with the Health Buddy ecosystem, it enables preventive care through screenings and tracking, and provides maturity benefits as total fund value at Net Asset Value (NAV) with eligible premium returns, marking a shift to combined insurance and investment healthcare financing.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Paras Defence Partners Complus, JV Micronics For Anechoic Chamber Projects 
In April 2026, Paras Defence and Space Technologies Limited (PARAS),  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Complus Systems Private Limited and JV Micronics to collaborate on the development of advanced anechoic chamber projects in India.
Key Details of Partnership:
Objective: The collaboration aims to strengthen indigenous capabilities in electromagnetic testing infrastructure, which is crucial for defence, aerospace, and electronics sectors.
Key Roles: Under the partnership, PARAS will lead the consortium, handling design, development, manufacturing, installation, and associated systems.

• Complus Systems  will provide technical expertise and engineering support, and JV Micronics will manage manufacturing, integration, and support for Radio Fequency (RF) absorbers and related solutions.

Anechoic Chambers: These are specialized facilities that absorb electromagnetic wave reflections to enable accurate testing of antennas, radar systems, and electronic equipment.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Sahajanand Medical Technologies Achieves ISO 50001 Certification in Cardiovascular Device Manufacturing Sector 
In April 2026, Sahajanand Medical Technologies Limited(SMT) received International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001:2018 Energy Management System certification, becoming the first domestic cardiovascular manufacturing unit in India to adopt a structured international energy management system for its facilities in Surat (Gujarat) and Hyderabad (Telangana).

• ISO 50001 is an international framework that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an Energy Management System (EnMS).

About Recognition:
Significance: The certification highlights SMT’s efforts to optimize energy use, enhance environmental responsibility, and integrate sustainability into its operations.
Sustainability Focus: SMT’s achievement reflects its commitment to sustainable manufacturing while maintaining high-quality standards in cardiovascular device production.
Impact: By adopting this standard, SMT has enhanced its capability to monitor energy use, improve efficiency, and embed sustainable practices across its manufacturing ecosystem.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice Anupinder Grewal Appointed as President of NCLT
In April 2026, Justice (Retd.) Anupinder Singh Grewal, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court(HC), was appointed President of the National Company Law Tribunal(NCLT) for a five-year term or until the age of 67, whichever is earlier, with approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet(ACC).

• He succeeds Bachu Venkat Balaram Das who served as acting president of NCLT.
• The NCLT President is a former Chief Justice(CJ) of a HC, but this is the first time a former senior judge has been appointed to the post.

About Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal:
Profile: He has over 30 years of legal and judicial experience and began his practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1992.
Judicial Career: He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana HC on 25 September 2014, later transferred to the Rajasthan HC on 19 December 2014, where he became a Permanent Judge on 20 May 2016, and subsequently returned to the Punjab and Haryana HC, resuming charge on 5 October 2016.
Legacy: He handled civil, constitutional, criminal, service, and land acquisition cases, along with public interest litigations, for over 19 years on behalf of the Punjab and Haryana, key cases including writ petitions, arbitration matters, and service disputes.
NCLT: It was under Supreme Court scrutiny due to vacancies and delays in insolvency cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code(IBC), 2016.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO & IN Successfully Conduct Maiden Salvo Launch of NASM-SR Missile in Odisha
In April 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Indian Navy (IN), successfully carried out the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR) from a naval helicopter off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha.
About NASM-SR Test:
Trial Achievement: During the trial, two missiles were launched in quick succession from the same helicopter, marking the first-ever salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system.
Test Outcome: All objectives were successfully achieved with tracking carried out using radar, electro-optical systems, and telemetry at the Integrated Test Range(ITR), Chandipur.
Development: The missile has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat(RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.

MeitY Launches Two Indigenous Silicon Photonics Solutions at IIT Madras, TN
In April 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched two indigenously developed silicon photonics technology solutions, namely a Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and a Universal Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine, at the Centre of Excellence for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CoE-CPPICS) at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).
About Silicon Photonics Technologies:
PDK: It offers 50+ verified components for designing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) domestically, reducing dependence on foreign libraries and supporting indigenous chip development across startups, industry, defence, academia, and India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
PPIC: Universal PPIC Test Engine is an automated platform for testing, characterisation, and validation of photonic and optoelectronic modules, eliminating reliance on overseas facilities while accelerating chip development, reducing costs and delays, and enabling scalable validation for advanced photonic technologies.
Collaboration: The initiative involves SilTerra (Malaysia) for fabrication, izmo Microsystems (Bengaluru, Karnataka) for packaging, and IIT Madras (TN) as the research and development hub.

OBITUARY

Veteran Indian Golfer Vijay Kumar Passed Away
In April 2026, former Indian golfer Vijay Kumar passed away at the age of 57 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP). He was born in 1968 in Martinpurwa, Lucknow, UP.
About Vijay Kumar:
Early Career: He started his journey as a caddie, initially playing with makeshift clubs made from tree branches, and turned professional in 1988.
Domestic Dominance: He was a four-time Order of Merit champion (1995–96, 1997–2000) and dominated Indian golf from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, winning nearly 100 titles.
International Representation: He represented India at the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1999 held at St. Andrews, Scotland.
Major Achievement: His biggest success was winning the Indian Open in 2002 at the Delhi Golf Club, later finishing runner-up in 2006.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2026 – April 30 
Ayushman Bharat Diwas is annually observed across India on April 30, under the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan to promote awareness of Ayushman Bharat, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW).
About Ayushman Bharat scheme: 
Launch Idea: Ayushman Bharat was introduced following the recommendations of the National Health Policy 2017 to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Launch Details: The scheme was launched by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 23 September 2018.
Objective: It aims to transform India’s healthcare system across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Key Components: The scheme comprises two pillars: Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(PM-JAY).

STATE NEWS

Maharashtra Approves AI Policy 2026 with Rs 10,000 Crore Investment Target 
In April 2026, the Maharashtra Cabinet, under Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, approved the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2026, aiming to attract Rs 10,000 crore investment and generate 1.5 lakh employment opportunities by 2031 through development of AI infrastructure, innovation centres and skill training initiatives across Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About Maharashtra Artificial Intelligence Policy:
Infrastructure: The policy proposes six AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs), five AI Innovation Cities, 2,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and a ‘Compute as a Service’ platform, and training for 2 lakh youth via Maharashtra Centre for Advanced Artificial Intelligence Training (MCAIT) through industry–academia collaboration.
Ecosystem: Support includes Rs.500 crore venture capital fund (Rs.250 crore state share), 12 AI incubators, grants up to Rs.1 crore (Rs.1.25 crore for women-led startups), financial assistance to 5,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with up to 20% subsidy, and development of 50 AI tools via ‘Maha AI Tools Hub’.
Governance: AI-based services, readiness audits, Maharashtra AI Mission, ethical AI framework, State AI Data Exchange (regional languages), and incentives including capital subsidy, stamp duty remission, power tariff benefits, and patent reimbursements.

Bengaluru Police Introduces India’s First Al-powered multilingual ‘Namma 112 ‘
In April 2026, Bengaluru City Police launched a multilingual Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in the ‘Namma 112’ Emergency Response Support System to make emergency services more accessible and inclusive, marking first-of-its-kind initiative in India.
About AI-Powered Namma 112:
Namma 112: It is an advanced emergency response platform integrated with AI that enables faster and more efficient handling of distress calls through real-time analysis and automated dispatch mechanisms.
AI System: It uses Multilingual Voice AI for Nationwide Key Interventions (VANKI) system, developed in collaboration with tech partners Monday Ventures and Aeos.
Multilingual Support: It supp Bengaluru City Policeorts 10+ additional languages, including Indian languages like Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Odia, Manipuri, Assamese, Kashmiri, and Nepali, as well as international languages such as Spanish, French, and Arabic, with plans for further expansion based on usage data and demographics.
Features: The system automatically converts voice calls into text with key alerts, and uses past data to help position police in high-risk areas in advance.

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